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Saturday, April 30, 2011

Week of 18 February 1929

Monday, 18 February
RMS Saxon - Capatown - Sea Point
Just at dawn we could see the high land NW of Capetown and then the lights of Capetown and the light of Robben Island. We all had to be up before 6 am to be interviewed by the immigration officials in the Smoking Room, then soon after 6 am breakfast and we tied up alongside wharf in Capetown Harbour. We cleared our baggage at customs. Had to pay duty of 14/6 on field glasses and a camera.
Got into telephonic communication with Marine Hotel Sea Point. Lunch at the Royal Hotel . Back to tea at Marine Hotel. Polly rested in her room in morning. Miss Shepiston to dinner. After dinner we all three and Mr Weston walked over to the Queens Hotel Sea Point, a really splendid place. Pretty tired at night.Tuesday, 19 February
Marine Hotel, Sea Point - St James Hotel, near Muizenberg
I went into Capetown in morning and back to lunch. After lunch we sent off our baggage by hall porter and went into Capetown and boarded the Saxon which was shortly to leave for Durban. We walked with Mr Bance ("Jimmy") to see the Carnarvon Castle, the latest and largest Union Castle boat, then to the station and took train to St James, which is next to Muizenberg. The sea here is lovely, very blue with rollers and surf - celebrated for surf bathing.
The St James Hotel appears to be very first class and very attractive. It is owned by an ex mess sergeant of the IX Lancers.Wednesday, 20 February
St James Hotel, St James
Polly breakfasted in her room and I walked into Muizenberg and looked at the surf bathing. Many very fat women bathing . Very few people had any skill in riding their surf boards on the waves.Thursday, 21 February
We sat out on the shore in the morning and Polly paddled. We left about 11 am in a car and had a splendid drive. Muizenberg, Tokai, Constancia, Hont Bay? and back via Fish Hoek.
We took our lunch with us and stopped and ate it high up where there was a lovely view. Groot Constancia was very interesting.
We got back about 3 pm and went for a walk after tea on the road above the hotel.Saturday, 23 February
We left soon after 11 am in a car (overland) for a drive to Cape Point via Simonstown. - over the mountain and back through Simonstown via the coast road. Had our lunch and walked up to the lighthouse. Picked some wild flowers. Stopped at Millar's Point and Polly paddled.Sunday, 24 February
Polly and I went to church at Kalk Bay at 11 am. We packed up our cabin trunks after lunch and then went off with deck chair to Hermanus by rail. We went by train to Plumstead near Wynberg and had tea with Mr and Mrs Du Toit. Came back by train about 6 pm.